Fairiel Sends an Answer to..

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 15

Fairiel Sends an Answer to..

THE MOON'S HALO

"Mother Bear," Lower. Hutt.—lf you send . a stamped envelope I'll* send the results of the competitions, pixiekin. What a grand tour , you had in spite of meeting a storm on your travels. Thank you- for that lovely big drawing of sand fairies.. , ~ * • "Joan Xi," Nelson.—Another mushroom has sprung up in Nelson. Shall we call you "New Year Sprite," Joan? It was good to hear from you and to know you are interested' in the Ring. "J.D.W.," Island Bay.—"The Buccaneer King" is .an excellent story for: boys and girls. Did you mls3 the first answer to your letter? It said, "Every serial must be at the, Ring in complete form before the first chapter is. printed." <:■ . . "Shamle," Paraparaumu.—What a wet weekend for a sunbather. Did it take all the curl out of your hair? "Eat all your.crusts to bring, it back," advises the elf. .. .■ . "Tuesday Fairy," City.—--Nice of you .to. come visiting,' elf, and now when your poems and letters arrive .I'll have a mental picture of you writing them. Happy holidays! '■■:'■:■'■ :. ; "Sunray Sally," City.--I have ■ eet Letterbox . Elf searching for an adventure tale for you ... so who knows where in this wide world he'll lead you? It was1 jolly to have you in the.Bing.-- :'/, ." ~ • ■- •■' -:-. -.--• V- -- : ;; "Pepper Pot," City.—How are -you enjoying the holidays, Lass? I remember your visits to the Ring and send you a ■ big thank you for the poems. "Summer" is as breezy as holiday weatber 1 •"■'■■■'.!' '.■■■.■ "Southerly Buster," Johnsonville.—The fairies have had to wear floating shoes'but Mr. Sun is smiling again. Do tell us more about-the Thames and Whangamata Bush. And you, too, visitd the steaming mud-holes of Whaka- ■ rewarewa. . "■• '; '•;''*•'■•■■ '-^'■'/::-'■ ./'"■^■■■'- ' "Jean H.,'' Lower Hutt—A cheery '^welcpme. in" to you, Jean, but you*must, think, of ;an-' other name. We have a: "Highland Lass" already. "Pirate's Plunder", has a rollicking swing 'but I hope you never meet that rascal Blackboard Pete. 7 ; ; ; :; ? ' -;.V;"Jemima Candlestick," Karori.—What a' surprise for Joy and May.; I'm sure many pixiefolk will wish their holidays could end- the . same way. -The riddles land the poem will 'find places; in print. ; -U ;- !:■■ :!„ ;' "Bunty," Kllblrhle.—Tour first holiday away from home. I hope.it;will: be"a- lovely one to keep in your Memory; Box. /The -redcoated soldier in your drawing is. ever so^ ■smart.- ■'"■' ..' J.-' r," v{" .' . _ : '\\; *:\:\;;'i ..'.-.. fyS'.- .!'■

Nearly every time Nancy Merki dives into a swimming pool she lowers a record, for she is one of America's finest swimmers. The story of how she became a swimming champion is one of the most remarkable you could hear. Pour years ago, a healthy girl of nine, she was- stricken with infantile paralysis. The doctors told her she would never be able to walk again. The blow was unbearable, but Nancy and her parents did not give up hope. The doctors prescribed massaging and exercises, under water, so Nancy became a water-baby.

She had nerer been in a swunming^ pool before and could not swim; but a kind instructor taught her hb^ 1 to kick her; almost useless legs. [For (hours, she persevered; and then one day' a miracle happened—her legs- came to life

No longer were they weak and numb. From that day Nancy did not look back. In three months she could swim like a fish, and rwon a'so yards race for girls of 12 and under. y In 1936 Nancy showed she • wa?.a coming champion when, racing over a three-mile course, she beat the ;best men and women swimmers in Oregon; This year the little girlV of ■13 who could not swim or walk four years ago made headlines by winning a"; 800 metres free 7 style race in America's record time. '-, '- ■ ''"' .: ■^..^Of-V-':

The halo is made by something in our air, which is practically as far from the moon as we are ourselves. There must be something in our air which bends the rays of light/in a regular way, so as to form a circle, sometimes larger and ■ sometimes smaller, that we see round the image of the moon. This is done by water in one form or another, sometimes, it is supposed, by raindrops, sometimes by frozen water existing in the form of ice-crystals. The size of the halo is controlled by' the. size and character of the crystals or drops which bend the moonlight as it passes through the air. ■•■ ■•.-''•. ■."":. ;■■ '-,y:. •;.'■'-,■ •■.' ■■''■ :j-

"Sea Urchin,' City.—Have you chosen a, hobby r yet, I wonder. Perhaps you'd like gardening. Most hobbles are begun for the Interest they hold and few are projlt-making, Marie. *> "Johnathan," City.—A lonß reading list al- * ready, John. I hope you are an outdoor reader, for the sunshine is 100 good ~ttf miss even for a good book. - "Gwen R.," Brooklyn.—Your writing is ira- t proving very quickly, Gwen. The last story is quite up to printing standard . . . when we've a corner ■ for it. "Great Greenfeather," Johnsonville.—T"he lines of your summery sketches are very graceful, t pixie. Tour work is improving and your picture people are coming to life. "Fairy Moonbeam." Kilbirnie.—You hare had an exciting time at the Exhibition. *>,Th« * Ghost Train sounds very thrilling. Has your Q little sparrow friend paid another visit? 7 "Merry May," Seatoun.—A bicycle tour is a splendid idea. I hope your two chums will be able to go with you. -Remember to teU .- the King all about it. , "White Fox," Auckland.—Sad news that you'll - be leading us so soon. We wish you all our best pixie-lucky for the matriculation results. X In fact we're sure your name will be ther» . . . near the tip-top. * _. > "Fantail," Otaki.—Another lucky elf who- can, >. -/ slip off her mushroom for an early bath,* *' every morning. I like your verse called 'i "Lupins." Keep on practising, Edna. r \ "Silver Star," Johnsonville.—l will shut Away,' your winter poem till May is over. W» r ? mustn't encourage Winter before his time* * ~u I'm so glad you learned to swim these boll*., ~' days. "Pat D.," Dannevirke.—Lovely to see you oft that sunshiny morning, Pat. The red^rosa ~f had ever so many admirers. Perhaps that ■ \, is why It Is still fresh and fragrant today. , "Ethel D.," Dannevirke.—l hope you'll com* *ls again, Ethel, 'cause we really didn't bay* "./ time to make friends . . . and may we see, - some of your pen-work this year? "White Horse Inn," Lower» Hutt—Our puzzler corner Is full for today, thank you elf, but <~ jour riddles will be useful later. Good guess-> <><l ingl You found all the hidden materials-! * y t "Tory," Lower Hutt—Another pioneer pam- * graph, Tory. What an adventurous life.your, , r ! great grandfather had. Perhaps one" day I ■ * will come across a copy*,of the book yott ->*' mentioned. jA "Daisy Dawn," Karorl.—^We all look forward -T"1 to your pictures and I know the Bins will % love the latest beachy one. ■ ' \ KC>«KZ>flo<=><»<Z>oo<C>oo<^ - 'I A Geography Test ;; •> -a

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(Original) ' ■ ' ,} Geography is a tiresome thing. ' " First you learn how the Winds begin* ■* Do they start from East .or' West? , >,- But there, teachers always think they, know best. In what zone does the country lie? Is it damp or is it dry? ; Are there many mountains there?' " . V Or is the rainfall very rare?, r "'. .j .i Today we got a map to draw, -• r -- • ** And tomorrow we will get some'more* Why? Oh! Why? should maps b« drawn. As I look at them, it makes me yawn, ._ S VASSIE ANDREWS , (ISK / , CAN YOU ANSWER? • * * - ". !• WHICH NAME? ' ' >| My first is in song and also sing. •>* My second is in bought but not in paid; My third is in pink and also in ink. - My fourth is in wrong and also in , , right. ■ % My fifth is in ruler but not in book. My sixth is in Ethel and also in "girl. . My seventh is in Lily but not lit , 1 flower. ' J TWO RIDDLES! What belongs to you, but is used more by other people than by youri self?' Your name. s . What is the worst weather for rat» and mice? When it rains cats^ and dogs. '; ~ • ♦ • Complete this double word-squar« by inserting the following lettersr A, A, B, D, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, G, L, L, O, R, R, R. • * • f > | - LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS. * • - ' Six Materials.—Wood, rubber, iron, paper. 1 stone, brass. Word Pairs.—Dog-rose, candlestick, egg-cup, book-case, horse-hair, foot-steps, car-garage,, cork-screw, flag-ship, and drum-major. Changed Words.—Boat, moat, most, mual, musk, dusk, desk; ploy, plot, clot, coot, coofc^ cork, work. School Puzzle.— G EBA EVADE GRAMMAR ADMIT i